Making Lists

It is just a week until Festival of Quilts opens at the NEC in Birmingham and I am getting organised. I have been to the show every year since it started. Some years I’ve spent several happy and productive days there. Other years I have run away screaming after a couple of hours because the shear volume of work on display is overwhelming.

This year I am planning on being there on the Thursday and Friday and am determined to get the best out of the visit. I have organised to meet different friends for breakfast, lunch and for dinner (there goes the diet!). I will be stewarding in the SAQA gallery ‘Celebrating Silver’ between 2.30 and 4pm on both days. So please come along and say hello, it is always nice to see friends and meet Facebook buddies in the flesh!

I have written myself a short shopping list but expect to go ‘off piste’ and spend more money than I should. That said I am absolutely determined not to buy any more gorgeous coloured threads – I have a wonderful collection that has sat untouched for quite some time as everything I have stitched lately has been in white, black or grey! If you see me at the Oliver Twists stand please pull me away!!!

All my threads – storage and a piece of art at the same time!

And finally I have had a look at the list of galleries to sort out the must see ones. Of course I will start by looking at my own work in Fine Art Quilt Masters and the Art and Miniature categories in the open competitions. Fine Arts has a really strong selection this year and I’m really looking forward to seeing the pieces. The other galleries on my list are:

6th European Quilt Triennial featuring a piece by friend and fellow Etcetera member Helen Conway.

Art Textiles: Made in Britain: Concealed – the group features some of my favourite artists and their exhibition at FoQ in 2014 on Identity was amazing.

Claire Benn and Ingrid Press – big fan of both

Pam Stallebrass – I’m not familiar with her work but it sounds fascinating!